News Releases

Applicant Briefings for Disaster Declaration

Applicant briefings will be held the week of June 16 for communities in Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Franklin, Orleans and Washington counties included in the Public Assistance disaster declaration that was signed this week. The declaration covers public infrastructure damage suffered in the counties above in floods from April 15-18.

The declaration allows communities and other eligible entities in those counties to receive 75 percent reimbursement for debris removal and repairs to public roads, bridges, and other infrastructure damaged during the storm.

The Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will begin the application process with mandatory applicants’ briefings on June 18, 19, and 20. The briefings will outline the requirements for receiving federal awards and maximizing eligibility of repairs. The briefing schedule is:

Communities can be reimbursed for equipment rentals (and fuel for that equipment), the cost of contractor assistance, employee overtime tied directly to storm response and restoration, and other eligible expenses.

The declaration also includes funds from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The federal HMGP program provides 75 reimbursement for projects that reduce the likelihood of damages to public infrastructure in future disasters.

For more information, contact DEMHS Public Assistance Officer Kim Canarecci at 800-347-0488.